Ira heard the sharp-suited, unruly-haired boy's laugh and saw the way he looked directly at the three of them as he did so.

"That boy's laughing at us," he pointed out in an undertone, his face flushing. His sisters followed his gaze. The boy in his smart suit was still staring and, to Ira's dismay, Auden drew herself up to her full height (which was not, in fact, very tall - despite being two years Ira's senior, she was hardly taller than he was), firmly grasped each of her siblings by an arm and marched them over to where the other boy loitered.

"What's funny?" she asked him in a saccharine voice which deceived no one, "Come on, let us in on the joke."